Believe it or not, the M4 Mac mini was released just over a year ago. Apple changed the footprint, design, and form factor to create a compact 5in x 5in x 2in aluminum box with a fan at the bottom—a nice upgrade from its predecessor. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much. I figured it would be a fine computer, especially since Apple debuted it at a $599 price point (now $499 on Amazon). I thought there must be some limitation everyday users would notice, right? But after using this as my main desktop for an entire year, it has completely changed how I think about computers and what real value in tech should look like.
Before we jump in, here’s my hands-on review of the M4 Mac mini after one year of use.
## Design and Specs
As I mentioned earlier, although the design did change, it wasn’t a drastic alteration. The Mac mini got more compact, a bit taller, and feels like a smaller but denser package. At this point, it almost feels portable. Viewed from the top down, it has the same corner radius as many Apple applications. The size is excellent and fits on any surface. It’s easy to tuck away, stand up, lay flat, and there are even cool casings that make it look like a mini Mac Pro!
While you can spec up the Mac mini with the M4 Pro and 64GB of unified memory, I went with the base model to see how it would hold up over time. The specs of the base version include:
– **Base M4 chip**
– **16GB unified memory**
– **256GB SSD storage**
– **Wifi 6E & Bluetooth 5.3**
### Ports
The port selection is also impressive:
– Three Thunderbolt 4 ports (rear)
– Gigabit Ethernet port (rear)
– HDMI 2.1 supporting up to 8K at 60Hz (rear)
– Two USB-C 10Gbps ports (front)
– 3.5mm headphone jack (front)
I wish there was at least one USB-A port and an SD card reader on the front, but at $499, some sacrifices are understandable. If you choose the M4 Pro variant, you get upgraded Thunderbolt 5 ports, if needed.
Another notable design choice is the power button’s placement on the bottom—slightly inconvenient, but with macOS standby mode, you’ll rarely need it. In a year of use, I’ve used the power button fewer than ten times.
## Everyday Performance
My goal with the baseline M4 Mac mini was to test how far I could go with a value-priced machine. My daily use includes email, Slack, other forms of communication, content consumption, extensive research, writing, web browsing, Excel work, Google Drive, file management, and occasional video editing.
The magic of the Mac mini lies in just how normal it feels to use. At $499, you’d expect some slowdown or for it to feel cheap, but I’ve never had that experience. It handles all my tasks seamlessly and remains whisper quiet—the fan has only kicked in a handful of times, proving that this machine can handle much more than basic day-to-day usage.
Here’s what my typical day looks like:
– Dozens of browser tabs open (Comet or Chrome)
– Slack, Monday.com, and Discord running constantly
– Occasional photo edits in Lightroom, quick video trims in Final Cut Pro
– Sidecar and Universal Clipboard with my iPad Pro
– iCloud Drive for seamless file syncing
I only have 16GB of RAM, and sometimes diagnostic tools show I’m using up to 14–15GB. Even when peaking, it never throttles down or slows.
## Other Uses and Limitations
But what if you’re a coder, gamer, or need to render 3D effects in Blender? Can the baseline Mac mini do it all?
The short answer: Yes and no.
Gaming works well for titles optimized for Apple Silicon, like NBA 2K on Apple Arcade. But if you want to play more demanding games like Assassin’s Creed with high settings, the experience won’t be the best. Casual gaming is great, but real AAA gaming still has room to improve.
The same goes for 3D rendering. Simple projects are handled fine, but for large files or fast rendering, you’d be better off with an M4 Pro or M4 Max.
It’s important to note that the Mac mini can handle most basic tasks and is great for learning new programs like Blender. However, for professional VFX work, 8K footage, or heavy project loads, you may find it stuttering.
Then there’s storage. For many, 256GB is sufficient, especially for cloud-based and lightweight files. But video creators with terabytes of 4K footage will need external storage. I typically recommend starting with base storage on Macs, as Apple’s upgrades are expensive.
## Who is the M4 Mac mini For?
The baseline M4 Mac mini fits a wide range of users:
– Students who want power without paying MacBook prices
– Remote workers needing a reliable home setup
– Creators handling 4K footage, photo editing, or light content creation
– Families using it as a shared computer or home server (great for Plex)
This computer is truly versatile. As long as you know what you’re looking for, the $499 M4 Mac mini is enough computer for about 95% of potential buyers.
## Final Thoughts
The M4 Mac mini has completely shifted my perspective on tech value. At $499, it outperforms most machines two or three times its price. It’s versatile and powerful for so many uses. Unless you need a crazy Pro-level machine, this Mac mini will work wonders for most people.
**Note:** When you buy the Mac mini, it only comes with the computer and the power cable. You’ll need your own mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Fortunately, there are great accessories for budget setups:
– Logitech Pebble keyboard (under $35)
– Satechi M1 mouse (under $30)
– 27in Dell monitor (under $140)
So, for just about $700, you can set up an awesome and powerful desk space. We live in amazing times!
**What do you think? Have you used the Mac mini? Are you thinking about getting one? Let’s discuss in the comments below.**
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**Mac mini deals and accessories:**
https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/11/the-m4-mac-mini-has-completely-changed-how-i-view-all-other-desktops-video/
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